Travel has a way of disrupting our routines. This isn’t always a bad thing, of course—travel is a great chance to broaden our horizons and gain perspective on other cultures. I’ve gotten some of my most fruitful work and writing ideas while on the road precisely because I wasn’t bogged down in that day-to-day to-do list. That said, it still helps to implement little hacks to help us stay healthy so we can fully enjoy those experiences. Last summer I was traveling a lot, but I was going to New Jersey almost every weekend and staying at my parents’ house to help take care of my dad and just be there. It really wasn’t that far removed from my day-to-day life so didn’t require much planning. This summer, however, if you’ve been following me on Instagram or Facebook, then you’ve likely noticed that this year has been a whole other ballgame—I feel like I’ve been in a different city every weekend! Since it’s been a while since I’ve shared my favorite healthy travel snacks, I wanted to share some of the things that help me feel well when I’m on the road. 

Wearing all the sunscreen at the 2019 Newport Folk Festival

Snacks

• Sliced raw veggies pack easily in a ziplock. My favorite is cherry and grape tomatoes since they don’t need to be refrigerated. Yes, I know that these are technically a fruit, but their nutritional profile is more similar to a vegetable. The potassium in there is also great for combatting travel bloat.
• Dehydrated and baked vegetable chips (where the only ingredients are that vegetable and maybe a little salt) were a game-changer for me. I almost always pack some beet or carrot chips. Bare snacks is my current favorite.
• On travel days, I do love the convenience of green powders since you can easily mix them up with water. I’m quoted in this mindbodygreen story talking about my go-to. Amazing Grass also has these awesome effervescent tabs. I love all the flavors but usually bring the Grape or Fruit Punch ones since they have caffeine and it buys me some time in the morning before I have to go seek out decent coffee.
• Chickpea snacks are a delicious nut-free option. Biena makes  handy single-serving packs that come in a bunch of flavors. I also appreciate that the sugar and sodium content are generally pretty low compared to lots of other packaged snack foods.
• As I mentioned in this article, I love jerky for a travel-friendly snack, and this one one is among my favorites.
• Fresh fruit that has a peel, like bananas and oranges.
• I almost always have a pack of chia seeds (I love these chia shots from the Chia Co) or ground flax to add to a yogurt I buy—easy way to add fiber to the day. You can also add them to water if you’d rather drink them.
• If I have a fridge where I’m staying, I’ll buy yogurt, some greens, baby carrots and/or more tomatoes, hummus or guacamole, and plenty of water. Sometimes kombucha.

(Related: THE 10 BEST CARRY-ON SNACKS)

Supplements

• Collagen powder is super-handy to add to coffee to add a little protein if you need a little something to keep yourself going but it’s not convenient to have a meal or snack. I usually have a Vital Proteins Grass-Fed Collagen Peptide Stick with me.
• Probiotics are a must when on the go to help support regular digestion and immune system function, and I always travel with some of Jarrow’s shelf-stable capsules travel well and fit easily into my purse.
• Vitality Natural Vitality Natural Calm powder packets have been a travel staple of mine for almost 10 years now. This magnesium powder dissolves magically into warm water and is awesome for things like tension headaches or if you suffer from travel-related constipation.
• CBD oil is my go-to sleep aid at home, but there’s a lot of gray area in regards to what you can and can’t take across state lines so if I’m not feeling particularly ballsy/lucky, I’ll bring Good Day Chocolates with Melatonin—having one or two delivers some melatonin to regulate my circadian rhythm AND doubles as an after-dinner sweet treat. I also love lavender oil that I rub on my wrists and bottom of my feet before bed.

Motel room yoga in Montauk — whatever works!

Fitness

• I wrote up a few Pilates and yoga sequences in the notes section on my phone so I can still get in a good core workout and stretch when I’m on the road.
• Push-ups and other body weight exercises are great ways to get in a strength workout when you don’t have access to a gym.
• Streaming workouts you can follow along on your phone or laptop can be a life-saver. I usually gravitate towards barre, pilates, or yoga classes since you don’t need much or any equipment.
• Walking is my favorite way to get cardio in my day-to-day life, but it’s also a great way to explore an area you’re visiting. Just be safe and make sure to wear proper footwear, let people know where you’re going, or bring a buddy. Downloading a map if you need guidance is helpful too.
• See if there’s a local gym or fitness studio to check out. If you’re a member of a place with multiple locations, sometimes you can get a special deal when you visit another city.

Other Stuff

• If I’m going anywhere there’s even a chance of outside time, I pack sunscreen—one for my face, and for my body.
• Because I have sensitive skin, I pack travel-sized packages and samples of my favorites or use those mini tubes and bottles so I don’t have to worry about relying on hotel shampoo and soap or whatever might be handy in an Airbnb or local drugstore.

What are your travel essentials? 

***While these are all products I buy and use in my  day-to-day life, this post may contain a few affiliate links.